Day 2
Earth's Magnetic Forces ~ Cloud in a Bottle ~ Lunar Biosphere
Earth's Magnetic Forces
Our magnetic field is squeezed in closer to Earth our Sun-facing side and is extremely elongated on the opposite side due to solar winds. Earth’s magnetic polarity is not constant. Unlike a classic bar magnet, the matter that determines Earth’s magnetic field moves around. Geophysicists are pretty sure that the reason the Earth has a magnetic field is because its solid iron core is surrounded by a fluid ocean of hot, liquid metal. The flow of liquid iron in Earth’s core creates electric currents, which in turn creates the planet's magnetic field.
Cloud in a Bottle
Have you ever wondered how clouds form? Well it's pretty simple! Clouds form from the condensation or freezing of water vapor (tiny droplets of water that are in gas form in the air around us). Have you ever had the experience of walking outside and the air feeling just feeling...well...heavy? If you live "down south" in the summer, that heavy feeling is likely to be a high level of humidity caused by water vapor building in the air around you. It can leave your skin feeling a bit sticky and is a good indicator that it is going to rain soon.
Want to see for yourself how easy it is to create a cloud? In this activity, you will get to make your own cloud in a bottle! Watch the video below to get step-by-step directions.
What will you see? The warm liquid water forms water vapor. This process of changing liquid water to gas is called EVAPORATION. As the water vapor rises and nears the ice-filled tray, the vapor cools. When you placed the recently burned match into the jar, you introduce smoke. The smoke particles provide a surface for the water to condense around.
Evaporation is the opposite of CONDENSATION. If you remove the metal tray, the cloud will disappear as it mixes with the warmer surrounding air. The same events occur in our environment. Evaporated water condenses to form clouds which may later produce rain. The production of rain is referred to as PRECIPITATION. Together, evaporation, condensation and precipitation play an important role in the water cycle.
ACTIVITY: Cloud in a Bottle
WHAT YOU NEED:
Mason Jar with Lid (You can also reuse a glass sauce jar.)
Matches (ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED)
Ice in a Metal Tray
AC Cloud in a Bottle procedure.pdf
Lunar Biosphere
Earth is the ultimate biosphere, literally a “life ball.” It holds and sustains all life known to humanity. As humans look to travel and live beyond our blue planet, we find conditions that are too harsh to sustain life as we know it.
Conditions on the Moon are not favorable for sustaining life because of the absence of liquid water, organic topsoil, and an atmosphere. Also lunar days (equal to 14 Earth days) and nights are very long. Until we are able to access and determine the quality of the frozen water sources satellite images have located on the moon, water for the astronauts must be brought from Earth or made using oxygen from lunar regolith and hydrogen from Earth. Nutrients need to be added to lunar regolith and plants have to be grown in a self-enclosed system or habitat. Due to the moon's phases, astronauts will experience periodic long, dark periods. Artificial light will be needed along with another power source in addition to solar energy. In order to develop a way for us to sustain a base on the moon, NASA scientists have the challenge of creating a working model of a lunar biosphere that is enclosed, balanced and self-sustaining.
In this activity, you will have the chance to build your own plastic bottle biosphere that will become a balanced, self– enclosed living system able to run efficiently over a long period of time. Once complete, this is a great way to observe the water cycle in action.
ACTIVITY: LUNAR BIOSPHERE
Measuring cups & spoons
2- Plastic 2 liter bottles
About an inch of gravel or pebbles (bottom layer)
A layer of sand (second layer)
A few inches of potting soil (leave room for your plant)
Small plants (find some in your yard...make sure to get the root system when you pull it to put in your biosphere
A cricket or worm (optional)
Water (You want your soil to be moist before sealing your bottle, but not too wet or soggy)
Clear plastic tape (Once you connect the two parts of the bottle together, tape around the outside of the bottle to seal it.
lamp (will serve as light & heat for your biosphere)
Tips
The gravel/pebble layer is pretty important. It helps to drain the excess water from the soil and will keep your terrarium healthy.
Some people recommend putting a small layer of activated carbon on top of the pebble layer to filter the water. While not necessary, it can kill off any bacteria that may have hitchhiked in with your sand, dirt, air or water. You can find it wherever aquariums are sold.
It's important to use potting soil rather than gardening soil because potting soil doesn't hold moisture as well. Your bottle is going to sweat on the inside due to evaporation and condensation. Your dirt needs to be able to let the water pass through rather than drown in it.
Plant choices: We've had success with lots of little plants like moss and ivy. You don't want to use a tree seedling or grass.